Carrier



June 17, 1930. H, H', C, GRONDAHL 1,764,623.

CARRIER Filed July 31; .192e sheets-sheet 2 Patented `lune 147, 1930 UNITED STATES A PATENT oF'FlcE i HANS HENRIX CHRISTIAN GRONDAHL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CARRIER Application led J'uly 31, 1926. Serial No. 126,168.

This invention relates to carriers, and more 'particularly to carriers for use with cranes or other hoisting apparatus.

In transferringloads by the use of cranes and the like, load engaging carriers sus'- pended by the crane cable, are employed and inmany instances these carriers are adapted to handle particular types of loads. Thus, for example, where the load consists of heavy material such as large metallic sheets or material supporting pans, the carrier should be adapted to engage `with and support theload in such a manner that the load will be securely held in position and the weight or bulk thereof will be evenly distributed upon the carrier.

Sheet supporting pans and like materials are in their very nature cumbersome because of the wide distribution of Itheir bulk and therefore in the process of transferring or lifting such materials by the use of a crane cable, care must be used in arranging them in a balanced position at the end of the cable.

The primary object of this invention is vto facilitate and accelerate the lifting and transferring of loads by the provision of an inexpensive, durable and efficient load engaging carrier for use in connection with hoisting and traveling apparatus.l

In accordance with'the general features of the invention one embodiment thereof comprises a rigid frame which is adapted to be suspended from a crane cabl'eby means of a swivel. The frame supports a plurality of oppositely disposed depending arms pivoted thereto, and which 'carry elongated clamping members at their lower extremities for engaging with and supporting heavy loads having wide bulk distribution such as large shallow pans filled with heavy materials or various forms of metallic sheet materials. These arms may be swumgi into and out of engagement with respect to a oad by a leverage mechanism which is manually operable from opposite points with respect thereto. AIn one form of carrier embodying the inventionhand wheels at'each end of the 'carrier frame are eared, with the means for actuating the pivoted;

of centrally positioned and oppositely dis-V posed hand levers are adapted to be conveniently operated by a worker for actuat-V ing the arms of the carrier in loading and unloading materials..

These and other objects will be more apparent from the following detailed description and the acompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a carrier *disclosing one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is adzransverse 'vertical' sectional viewv of the carrier taken on line 2 2 of F ig. 1; p

ig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the carrier shown in Figpl;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an alternate form of the carrier disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse verticall sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of the carrier shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various disclosures, it will be observed that the carrier disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 includes a rectangular frame 10. Secured .tov this frame 10 at each corner thereof and at points medially of its sides are the lower extremities of support members 11 .which are inclined upwardly and inwardly from the frame 10. The upperl extremities of the support members 11 are suitably secured to a coupling 13 of a swivel 15. This swivelfl comprises a ring 16, a shank 17 depending therefrom and extending through the coupling 13 and a nut 18 threaded upon 'the lower extremity of the shank 17. The

ring 1G is adapted to accommodate conventional types of hooks and the like (not shown) carried by crane cables.

Secured at each end of ythe sides of the frame 10 are brackets 2() and secured medally of the sides are brackets 21. These brackets 2O and 21 serve as a mounting for rotatable shafts 22. Positioned adjacent to the brackets 20 and secured to the shafts 22 supporta pair of parallel clamping -members 29 of angular cross section.

Extending longitudinally and vmediall 4 above the frame 10 is an actuating rock-sha t- 31 which is rotatably mounted at its `ends in bearing members 32 secured to the end portions of the frame 10. Mounted upon the actuating shaft 31, adjacent to each of the bearings 32, are gears 34- which mesh with companion pinion gears 35 disposed therebeneath, the pinions being mounted upon stub shafts 37 (Fig. 2). Each of these stub shafts 37 is revolubly mounted in the bearing members 32 and supports a hand wheel 38 at its outer extremity. Oppositely disposed rocker arms or lever arms s ecured to the actuating shafts 31 adjacent each of the gears 34 are connected at their extremities with the ends of the u per portions 25 of the arms 24 by means o links 41.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that by turningeither of the hand wheels 38 in one direction the depending portions 26 of the arms '24 will be swung outwardly through the medium of the pinion 35, the gear 34, the arms-40 and the links V41, and

y by turning the hand wheel 38 again in a reverse direction the arms 24 will be swung inwardly. When the links 41 and the arms 40 are in vali nment as shown in Fig. 2, the lower depen ing portions 26 of the arms 24 will have beenswung together to their innermost position and it will be apparent that they cannot be swung outwardly again without breaking the ali nment of the arms 40 and the links 41 by t e manipulation of the hand wheel 38.' A

The carrier disclosed in Figs. 4 5, and 6 represents an. alternate form of t e carrier heretofore described vand comprises a similar frame 10, support members 1l and swivel 15 tofwhich the upper end of the support members are secured. Brackets 20 are secured at each' end of the sides of the frame 10 and brackets 21 are secured medially -of said frame. These brackets 20 and 21 support a pair of rotatable shafts 22 and a plurality .of arms44 are secured to and depend from each of these shafts 22. Thelower extremities of the arms 44 are formed to support clamping members 29 similar to those dei scribed in connection with the carrier shown for the inner en s of oppositely disposed horizontal position shown in Fig. 5 the arms 44 will be swung outwardly through the action of the arms 54, the links 55, the pro asv jections 53 and the gear segments 52. When the lever arms 49 are again returned to their horizontal position, the arms 44 will have been swung together to their innermostpositions and lugs 56 projectingv from each of the lever arms 49 prevent the arms 44 from being swung outwardly until the lever arms are again raised. It will be apparent that the lever arms 49 are so positioned that they may very conveniently be operated individually from either side of the frame andthe operator may be in a position clear of the supported load.

. In the operation of the carrier disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive when said carrier is being lowered or carried yinto association with a pan or stack of sheet metal by means of a suitable crane, one of the hand wheels 38 is manipulated so as to swing the lower portions 26 of the arms 24 outwardly to permit the lowering of the clamping mem rs 29 over the sides of the material to be en gaged. When the clamping members 29 have been properly positioned with respect to the material the hand wheel 38 is again o erated to swing the arms 24 inwardly, t ereby carrying the clamping members 29 into operative-engagement beneath the load such as a stack of sheets, shown in dot and dash lines, Fig. 2. When the links 41 and the oppositely disposed arms 40 are in alignment the arms 24 will be locked in their en- 1 gaged position and the load may be hoisted and transferred without any possibility of the clamping members 29 becoming disen- ,v

gaged until the hand wheel 38 is again manually manipulated.

The operation of the carrier disclosed in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive is quite similar to the operation just described except that the lever arms 49 instead of hand wheels are manipulated to actuate the arms 44. In both instances the carriers are designed .to be operated by manipulating one of the lever armsV 49 or the hand wheels 38 from the sides of the carrier frame or in other words at opposite points with respect tothe load supported by the clamping members 29 and entirely clear thereof. By reason of this structure the worker is able to readily operate the carrier in loading and unloading material of the class described with a minimum possibility ofinjury.

Although the invention as herein illusn trated and described is particularly well l. In a carrier, a frame, arms p1votally mounted on the frame, clamping members carriedby the arms, a rock-shaft, means operable from opposite sides of the frame for rocking the shaft, and means for connecting the pivoted arms with the rock-shaft to effect 4 positive rocking of the arms ineither direction and for locking the arms in clamping position. v

2. In a carrler, a frame for attachment with a hoisting apparatus, oppositely disposed arms pivotally mounted on the frame, elongated clamping members supported by the arms for engagement with a load, a rockshaft disposed centrally of the frame, means operable from opposite sides of a carried load and at the ends of the shaft for rocking the shaft, and a leverage mechanism connecting the pivoted arms with the shaft to effect' positive rocking of the arms in either direction and for locking the arms in clamping position.

3. In a carrier, a frame, a frame. supporting means having a swivel for attachment with a hoisting apparatus, oppositely disposed arms pivotally mounted on the frame, elongated clamping members supported by the arms for engagement with a load to be carried, a rock-shaft disposed centrally of the frame, rotatable members operable from opposite sides of a carried load, gears connecting the ends of the shaft with the rotatable members, .and a leverage mechanism connecting the pivoted arms with the shaft to effect positive `rocking of the arms in either direction and for locking the armsl in clamping position.

4. In a carrier, a frame, an arm pivotally l mounted on one side of the frame, an arm ivotally mounted on another' side of the rame and at dlametrically opposite .points same direction to either grapple material or to release the material and for locking the arms in grappling position.

v'6. In a carrier, a frame, grap ling arms depending from the frame, a sha for actuating the arms, rocker-arms attached to the shaft, and links connecting the rocker-arms with the grappling arms, said lrocker-arms and links arranged to be in longitudinal alignment when the grappling arms are grasping material to lock the grappling arms 1n position.

7. In a carrier, a frame, a frame supporting means for attachment with a hoisting apparatus, oppositely disposed arms pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted to engage a. load to be carried, a rockshaft mounted on the frame, rotatable members operable from portions of the frame remote from each other, gears connecting the rotatable members with the shaft, and a leverage mechanism connecting the pivoted arms with the 'shaft to effect positive -rocking of the arms in either direction and for locking the arms in clamping position.

8. In a carrier, an elongated frame having supporting means for attachment to a hoisting apparatus, a rock shaft extending longif tudinally of the frame, oppositely disposed arms pivotally mounted. on the frame, elongated clamping members supported by the arms for engagement with a load lto be carried, rotatable members operable from opposite sides of a'carried load, gears connecting the rotatable members with the shaft, anda leverage mechanism connecting the pivoted arms with the shaft to effect a positive rocking of the arms in veither direction and for locking lthe arms in clamping posi- In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe Y my name this 16 day of July A. D., 1926.

' HANS HENRlK CHRISTIAN GRONDAHL to the irst arm, clam ing memb': .s carried l by the arms, a' sha t of smooth outline,

means for imparting motion to the shaft,

and means for connecting the pivoted arns with the shaft lto effect positive rocking of the arms in either direction and for locking the arms in clamping position.

5. In a carrier, a frame, a plurality of sets of dependin arms, the arms of each set secured to said frame at diametrically opposite points, and means operatively connected to said arms for effectin the positive operation of al1 of the arms o a set in the. 

